Ephesians: Walking Right

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

It is a Walk of Death

Their spirit is “dead”

Ephesians 2:2 KJV 1900

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

It is a Walk of Desertion

Their soul is “alienated”

Col.1:21a

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,

It is a Walk of Delusion

Their reasoning is “ignorant”

It is a Walk of Dullness

Their heart is “blind” i.e Hard

It is a Walk of Depravity

Their emotions are “calloused” i.e past feeling

Their life is “lascivious”

Their work is “unclean”

Their motive is “greed”

We that are saved are to put off these characteristics of the “old man” .

Notice:

II. the Exchanged Walk

(V.20-24)

Paul tells them in verses 20-24 that their lives should

A. Express the Christ they have learned

v.20-21

Matthew 11:29 KJV 1900

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

They were to walk as Christ walked, do as Christ did. They were to show the love of Christ.

Paul says, you have learned something diffrent then what the world teaches.

The world expresses self-desire, you are to express the savior’s desire.

B. Exemplify the Christ they Proclaim

Put off the Old v.22

Because of your Relationship

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 KJV 1900

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

2 Corinthians 6:17–18 KJV 1900

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Because of your Renunciation

2 Corinthians 4:2 KJV 1900

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Paul is saying, because I have recieved mercy, I have renounced some things.

We have been saved by grace through faith

We are new creatures in Christ

Why are you still doing the same things you use to?

Paul tells them to be renewed in their minds.

When we realize what we have been saved from and saved to, and who it is that we serve, we will.....

Put on the New v.24

Because its your Nature

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Because its in your Name

King James Version (Chapter 11)

And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Isaiah 62:2 KJV 1900

And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, And all kings thy glory: And thou shalt be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the Lord shall name.

I dont act like my last name is Trump.

I act like my did (atleast that is what heather says)

I know its funny, but think about it

We have been given a new name, that new name is Christian

What does Christian mean, Little Christ

Why do we act like little devils?

You were a child of the devil

Why are you still acting like it?

You are not what you use to be.

Paul is telling his readers that they have been saved by grace through faith and because of this they are a new creature in Christ, and being a new creature in Christ, your relationship, renunciation, Nature and your name, should remind you that you are not what you use to be therefore dont go back to the old life.

III. The Examined Walk

(V.25-32)

I believe this should be a time for us to examine our walk before men and see if we are truly walking different.

Now here Paul is contrasting once again the difference between the world and the believer.

this is done in verses 25 - 29

In verse 30, Paul tells them, if you act like the world, you will grieve the Holy Spirit.

Then Paul says in the same verse whereby ye are sealed

Paul is once again reminding them that they have something in them that the world does not have. He is saying becasue you have the Holy Spirit you are to put of bitterness ,wrath, anger clamour

A. Vices of the Old Walk

Lying

It will not go unpunished Pro 19 9

Proverbs 19:9 KJV 1900

A false witness shall not be unpunished, And he that speaketh lies shall perish.

It is an act of malice Pro. 26:24-28.

It can be a sign of a dead conscience 1Tim 4:1-2

1 Timothy 4:1–2 KJV 1900

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

It is the hallmark of the devil Jn 8:44

John 8:44 KJV 1900

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Anger

comes from Jealousy

Pride

Stealing

Stealing is of course comdemend by God

Stealing is a common practice in the world

Corrupt Speech

this is evil speech

Profaning God’s name

Foolish boasting

Ridicule and insults

Criticism and complaint

slander

Cursing

Gossip

Bitterness

It is evidence of a sinful heart

Acts 8:23 KJV 1900

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Play and simple.....

Romans 3:10–18 KJV 1900

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

So if that is the vices of the old walk, what does the new walk look like?

B. Virtues of the New Walk

Truth (v.25)

Proverbs 12:22 KJV 1900

Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: But they that deal truly are his delight.

Self-Control (v.26 Be ye angry and sin not)

James 1:19 KJV 1900

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Work Ethic (v.28)

Pleasant Speech (v.29

Grace

Colossians 4:6 KJV 1900

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Kindness

Galatians 5:22–23 KJV 1900

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Colossians 3:12 KJV 1900

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

1 Thessalonians 5:15 KJV 1900

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

2 Timothy 2:24 KJV 1900

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

2 Peter 1:7 KJV 1900

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

So the question remains: Are you walking different?

Jacob walked different after wrestling with God.

People knew something had happened to him

Can people say the same thing about you?

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